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Population in Bulgaria compared to Ukraine: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Bulgaria was 6,441,421 in 2024 vs 37,860,221 people in Ukraine in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Bulgaria's population is 6,359,449 people compared to 40,125,599 in Ukraine.

Population statistics:

  • Ukraine's population is 6.31 times bigger than Bulgaria's.
  • Bulgaria is ranked the 112th most populous country in the world, while Ukraine is the 40th.
  • The countries together account for 0.56% of the world: 0.08% for Bulgaria vs 0.48% for Ukraine.
  • For the last 10 years, Bulgaria has had an average growth rate of -0.96% per year vs -1.74% in Ukraine.
  • Since 2006, the population of Bulgaria has decreased from 7.6M people to 6.36M (16.3% decline), while Ukraine has declined from 47.3M to 40.1M (15.1% decline).

Bulgaria vs Ukraine: population by year and forecast

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Ukraine
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Bulgaria Ukraine
2100 3,368,029 15,493,960
2099 3,392,444 15,751,557
2098 3,416,655 16,012,938
2097 3,440,938 16,278,602
2096 3,465,328 16,547,938
2095 3,489,216 16,820,897
2094 3,513,318 17,098,910
2093 3,537,356 17,381,822
2092 3,561,475 17,669,049
2091 3,585,597 17,960,681
2090 3,609,873 18,257,867
2089 3,634,642 18,559,027
2088 3,659,749 18,865,031
2087 3,685,668 19,176,483
2086 3,712,363 19,492,606
2085 3,739,898 19,812,584
2084 3,768,305 20,138,855
2083 3,797,217 20,468,747
2082 3,827,186 20,803,241
2081 3,857,721 21,140,953
2080 3,890,095 21,482,498
2079 3,923,403 21,827,152
2078 3,957,241 22,175,099
2077 3,992,168 22,525,846
2076 4,027,738 22,879,896
2075 4,064,356 23,236,521
2074 4,102,642 23,596,095
2073 4,141,518 23,957,807
2072 4,180,975 24,319,928
2071 4,221,261 24,685,370
2070 4,262,568 25,053,352
2069 4,304,304 25,423,272
2068 4,346,623 25,794,560
2067 4,389,924 26,168,072
2066 4,433,953 26,543,206
2065 4,478,521 26,920,121
2064 4,523,406 27,298,592
2063 4,568,385 27,677,528
2062 4,613,363 28,056,960
2061 4,658,825 28,437,884
2060 4,704,379 28,818,343
2059 4,749,738 29,198,891
2058 4,794,388 29,580,044
2057 4,839,236 29,958,884
2056 4,884,068 30,335,136
2055 4,929,309 30,710,041
2054 4,974,635 31,080,334
2053 5,020,162 31,447,868
2052 5,065,364 31,811,171
2051 5,110,833 32,170,929
2050 5,156,741 32,525,262
2049 5,202,941 32,875,483
2048 5,249,351 33,217,836
2047 5,296,642 33,556,749
2046 5,343,848 33,892,646
2045 5,391,354 34,221,999
2044 5,439,559 34,547,153
2043 5,488,407 34,869,270
2042 5,537,839 35,189,550
2041 5,588,510 35,507,946
2040 5,639,850 35,823,225
2039 5,692,028 36,141,658
2038 5,743,725 36,457,134
2037 5,796,645 36,772,578
2036 5,849,741 37,084,252
2035 5,902,025 37,396,243
2034 5,954,460 37,706,533
2033 6,007,050 38,015,585
2032 6,058,858 38,322,554
2031 6,111,118 38,630,259
2030 6,163,564 38,935,791
2029 6,214,784 39,238,099
2028 6,264,738 39,537,815
2027 6,313,255 39,830,895
2026 6,359,449 40,125,599
2025 6,402,394 38,707,520
2024 6,441,421 37,860,221
2023 6,446,596 37,732,836
2022 6,465,097 41,048,766
2021 6,507,301 44,298,640
2020 6,550,696 44,680,014
2019 6,616,726 44,957,458
2018 6,710,798 45,208,907
2017 6,803,468 45,436,041
2016 6,894,139 45,616,832
2015 6,984,225 45,784,896
2014 7,073,572 45,972,380
2013 7,160,005 46,126,770
2012 7,305,888 46,210,056
2011 7,348,328 46,307,853
2010 7,395,599 46,456,003
2009 7,444,443 46,623,731
2008 7,492,561 46,819,175
2007 7,545,338 47,062,798
2006 7,601,022 47,278,694
2005 7,658,972 47,585,556
2004 7,716,860 47,979,507
2003 7,775,327 48,315,136
2002 7,837,161 48,677,281
2001 8,009,142 49,106,855
2000 8,170,172 49,556,660
1999 8,210,624 49,976,446
1998 8,256,786 50,379,731
1997 8,312,068 50,786,885
1996 8,362,826 51,226,109
1995 8,406,067 51,665,539
1994 8,443,591 52,075,998
1993 8,472,313 52,350,126
1992 8,540,164 52,323,671
1991 8,632,367 52,170,961
1990 8,718,289 52,054,092
1989 8,876,972 51,917,817
1988 8,981,446 51,724,853
1987 8,971,359 51,515,732
1986 8,958,171 51,318,745
1985 8,960,547 51,108,770
1984 8,960,679 50,887,599
1983 8,939,738 50,637,029
1982 8,917,457 50,402,724
1981 8,891,117 50,189,281
1980 8,861,535 49,955,152
1979 8,825,940 49,721,381
1978 8,814,032 49,521,243
1977 8,804,183 49,336,481
1976 8,758,599 49,120,842
1975 8,720,742 48,865,229
1974 8,678,745 48,576,570
1973 8,620,967 48,277,121
1972 8,576,200 47,946,893
1971 8,536,395 47,573,287
1970 8,489,574 47,261,306
1969 8,434,172 46,976,256
1968 8,369,603 46,614,325
1967 8,310,226 46,215,988
1966 8,258,057 45,802,519
1965 8,204,168 45,386,892
1964 8,144,340 44,951,156
1963 8,078,145 44,462,372
1962 8,012,946 43,943,674
1961 7,943,118 43,399,766
1960 7,867,374 42,824,093

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/ukraine | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Bulgaria decreased by 706,883 people (a 9.3% decline), while Ukraine lost 1,661,862 people (a 3.52% decline).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Bulgaria lost 534,690 people (a 7.76% decline), while Ukraine's population decreased by 5,491,233 people (a 12% decline).

Bulgaria was ranked 95th most populous country in 2006 and is 112th in 2026. Ukraine was ranked 27th in 2006 and ranked 40th now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Bulgaria's population will shrink by 18.9% to 5,156,741 people with a rank change from 112th to 128th. The population of Ukraine will decrease by 18.9% to 32,525,262 people and rank change from 40th to 60th.

Both countries are in a period of decline and in 50 years are projected to lose 36.7% of the population in Bulgaria and 43% in Ukraine.

Population growth rate by year

Bulgaria
Factual

Projection
Ukraine
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Bulgaria Ukraine
2100 -0.72% -1.64%
2099 -0.71% -1.63%
2098 -0.71% -1.63%
2097 -0.7% -1.63%
2096 -0.68% -1.62%
2095 -0.69% -1.63%
2094 -0.68% -1.63%
2093 -0.68% -1.63%
2092 -0.67% -1.62%
2091 -0.67% -1.63%
2090 -0.68% -1.62%
2089 -0.69% -1.62%
2088 -0.7% -1.62%
2087 -0.72% -1.62%
2086 -0.74% -1.62%
2085 -0.75% -1.62%
2084 -0.76% -1.61%
2083 -0.78% -1.61%
2082 -0.79% -1.6%
2081 -0.83% -1.59%
2080 -0.85% -1.58%
2079 -0.86% -1.57%
2078 -0.87% -1.56%
2077 -0.88% -1.55%
2076 -0.9% -1.53%
2075 -0.93% -1.52%
2074 -0.94% -1.51%
2073 -0.94% -1.49%
2072 -0.95% -1.48%
2071 -0.97% -1.47%
2070 -0.97% -1.46%
2069 -0.97% -1.44%
2068 -0.99% -1.43%
2067 -0.99% -1.41%
2066 -1% -1.4%
2065 -0.99% -1.39%
2064 -0.98% -1.37%
2063 -0.97% -1.35%
2062 -0.98% -1.34%
2061 -0.97% -1.32%
2060 -0.95% -1.3%
2059 -0.93% -1.29%
2058 -0.93% -1.26%
2057 -0.92% -1.24%
2056 -0.92% -1.22%
2055 -0.91% -1.19%
2054 -0.91% -1.17%
2053 -0.89% -1.14%
2052 -0.89% -1.12%
2051 -0.89% -1.09%
2050 -0.89% -1.07%
2049 -0.88% -1.03%
2048 -0.89% -1.01%
2047 -0.88% -0.99%
2046 -0.88% -0.96%
2045 -0.89% -0.94%
2044 -0.89% -0.92%
2043 -0.89% -0.91%
2042 -0.91% -0.9%
2041 -0.91% -0.88%
2040 -0.92% -0.88%
2039 -0.9% -0.87%
2038 -0.91% -0.86%
2037 -0.91% -0.84%
2036 -0.89% -0.83%
2035 -0.88% -0.82%
2034 -0.88% -0.81%
2033 -0.86% -0.8%
2032 -0.86% -0.8%
2031 -0.85% -0.78%
2030 -0.82% -0.77%
2029 -0.8% -0.76%
2028 -0.77% -0.74%
2027 -0.73% -0.73%
2026 -0.67% 3.66%
2025 -0.61% 2.24%
2024 -0.08% 0.34%
2023 -0.29% -8.08%
2022 -0.65% -7.34%
2021 -0.66% -0.85%
2020 -1% -0.62%
2019 -1.4% -0.56%
2018 -1.36% -0.5%
2017 -1.32% -0.4%
2016 -1.29% -0.37%
2015 -1.26% -0.41%
2014 -1.21% -0.33%
2013 -2% -0.18%
2012 -0.58% -0.21%
2011 -0.64% -0.32%
2010 -0.66% -0.36%
2009 -0.64% -0.42%
2008 -0.7% -0.52%
2007 -0.73% -0.46%
2006 -0.76% -0.64%
2005 -0.75% -0.82%
2004 -0.75% -0.69%
2003 -0.79% -0.74%
2002 -2.15% -0.87%
2001 -1.97% -0.91%
2000 -0.49% -0.84%
1999 -0.56% -0.8%
1998 -0.67% -0.8%
1997 -0.61% -0.86%
1996 -0.51% -0.85%
1995 -0.44% -0.79%
1994 -0.34% -0.52%
1993 -0.79% 0.05%
1992 -1.07% 0.29%
1991 -0.99% 0.22%
1990 -1.79% 0.26%
1989 -1.16% 0.37%
1988 0.11% 0.41%
1987 0.15% 0.38%
1986 -0.03% 0.41%
1985 -0.001% 0.43%
1984 0.23% 0.49%
1983 0.25% 0.46%
1982 0.3% 0.43%
1981 0.33% 0.47%
1980 0.4% 0.47%
1979 0.14% 0.4%
1978 0.11% 0.37%
1977 0.52% 0.44%
1976 0.43% 0.52%
1975 0.48% 0.59%
1974 0.67% 0.62%
1973 0.52% 0.69%
1972 0.47% 0.79%
1971 0.55% 0.66%
1970 0.66% 0.61%
1969 0.77% 0.78%
1968 0.71% 0.86%
1967 0.63% 0.9%
1966 0.66% 0.92%
1965 0.73% 0.97%
1964 0.82% 1.1%
1963 0.81% 1.18%
1962 0.88% 1.25%
1961 0.96% 1.34%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/ukraine | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Bulgaria declined by 0.08%, while Ukraine's population grew by 0.34%.

Live population counters

Bulgaria Ukraine
Current population
6359449
40125599
Population rank 112/197 40/197
Percent of world population 0.08% 0.48%
One net population change
1.69 hours
4.13 minutes
One birth every
9.16 minutes
2.48 minutes
One death every
5.19 minutes
1.06 minutes
Daily growth/decline -14 +349
Annual growth/decline -5,175 +127,385
Annual growth/decline rate -0.08% +0.34%
Population growth rate rank 171/197 147/197
One migration net change every
2.97 hours
18.6 seconds
Annual migration change -2,961 +1,702,358
Net migration rank 106/196 1/196
Foreign-born residents 299,100 5,064,173
Foreign-born residents rank 98/195 14/195
Foreign-born share of population 4.4% 13.4%
Foreign-born share rank 99/195 51/195

Natural population change vs migration

Bulgaria
Natural

Migration
Ukraine
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Bulgaria Ukraine
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -2,961 - 1,702,358
2024 - 524 - 1,146,012
2023 -43,837 5,173 -283,185 -299,961
2022 -62,065 26,498 -349,284 -5,699,445
2021 -90,452 11,756 -449,941 -1,129
2020 -65,507 30,167 -307,533 -4,167
2019 -46,317 -2,156 -236,296 -6,908
2018 -46,304 -3,873 -227,491 -32,220
2017 -45,583 -6,109 -158,390 -36,155
2016 -42,744 -9,482 -135,710 -31,340
2015 -44,699 -4,227 -147,107 -21,992
2014 -41,027 -2,180 -140,216 -65,678
2013 -37,948 -1,324 -129,662 26,781
2012 -40,183 -26,334 -130,451 66,768
2011 -37,477 -23,360 -158,372 26,457
2010 -34,759 -21,668 -180,388 16,030
2009 -26,800 -19,060 -197,918 26,796
2008 -32,967 -17,595 -229,086 9,312
2007 -37,727 -16,366 -282,659 15,237
2006 -39,526 -15,184 -300,787 136,442
2005 -42,124 -14,435 -337,857 -111,493
2004 -40,128 -13,604 -344,157 5,644
2003 -44,319 -13,183 -351,299 18,540
2002 -46,240 -12,735 -364,544 -26,991
2001 -44,050 -30,726 -374,734 -92,847
2000 -41,668 -26,211 -364,143 -67,865
1999 -39,411 -23,846 -348,286 -59,247
1998 -52,844 -23,262 -318,299 -80,684
1997 -58,185 -22,963 -306,549 -108,735
1996 -45,159 -21,520 -305,154 -158,008
1995 -42,030 -22,020 -281,629 -134,053
1994 -32,086 -20,984 -238,820 -166,380
1993 -24,569 -19,973 -169,405 26,357
1992 -18,789 -120,552 -95,857 291,788
1991 -14,675 -119,356 -16,486 125,962
1990 -3,487 -116,817 48,463 75,760
1989 5,326 -114,705 106,431 36,978
1988 9,879 215 162,002 75,637
1987 8,971 357 198,850 -18,275
1986 16,125 1,104 225,751 -12,369
1985 11,649 -19,230 201,011 5,546
1984 20,610 -1,032 222,430 13,340
1983 21,455 -1,872 241,741 23,608
1982 24,077 -1,860 194,101 9,096
1981 29,341 -1,830 182,839 40,807
1980 30,129 -2,045 197,223 47,406
1979 40,599 -872 197,294 25,635
1978 44,070 -62,769 206,554 -29,180
1977 47,543 -11,955 216,932 -24,745
1976 56,055 -2,522 247,323 -8,219
1975 54,941 -38,071 256,787 15,336
1974 64,223 -1,402 273,486 31,725
1973 57,760 -5,409 274,938 18,777
1972 47,169 -11,296 309,785 56,928
1971 52,925 -7,654 305,849 74,604
1970 61,125 -11,315 291,839 -48,335
1969 63,256 -3,204 274,858 51,763
1968 69,468 -132 295,162 102,096
1967 49,861 -420 313,899 85,527
1966 54,504 -144 337,794 89,737
1965 58,249 -1,406 334,365 69,354
1964 66,783 505 391,120 76,650
1963 66,241 500 449,648 60,178
1962 64,104 499 481,887 45,712
1961 75,460 378 508,602 51,625
1960 76,314 -1,112 538,812 52,281

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/ukraine | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 92.1% of the population change in Bulgaria is from natural causes (a loss of 528,535 people) and 7.94% is from migration (a gain of 45,567 people). In Ukraine 28.2% is from natural causes (a loss of 2,435,153 people) and 71.8% is from migration (a loss of 6,198,995 people).

As of 2024, 299,100 residents or 4.4% of the population were not native-born in Bulgaria, compared to 5,064,173 people or 13.4% in Ukraine.

Biggest cities by population

Bulgaria
City Population
Sofia 1.21M
Plovdiv 329K
Varna 319K
Burgas 189K
Stara Zagora 121K
Ruse 121K
Pleven 88.6K
Sliven 78.2K
Dobrich 69.4K
Shumen 66.6K
Ukraine
City Population
Kyiv 2.95M
Kharkiv 1.42M
Odesa 1.01M
Dnipro 969K
Donetsk 902K
Lviv 717K
Zaporizhia 710K
Kryvyi Rih 604K
Mykolaiv 470K
Luhansk 418K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/bulgaria/ukraine | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  5. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)

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